Lions finish strong with a win at Fenwick
By Gary Larsen

Coming off of a 1-0 loss to Benet in a game Saint Viator dominated in scoring chances, the Lions wanted more than anything to put some goals on the board against a rock-solid Fenwick team on Thursday.

A 3-1 win was just what the doctor ordered.

Chloe Luthringhausen struck twice and Molly Murphy had a goal for the Lions (9-7-0, 8-2-0 in ESCC play), who went 4-1 in their final five regular-season games heading into a regional opener on May 14 against Chicago Amundsen.

The Lions trailed 1-0 when Molly Murphy knotted the game before halftime, and the Lions best play came after the break.

"They woke up a little bit and got going and they finished the season strong," Lions coach Mike Taylor said. "They came off a disappointing loss on Tuesday when they did everything but put the ball in the back of the net. So they finished on a high note going into the playoffs. We'll be ready."

Through the game's first 25 minutes, the Lions' Erin Renee Murphy sent in a few dangerous throw-ins and corner kicks, while the Lions fought to apply pressure.

Katharine Sexton broke into the Friars' penalty area on the right side and sent a low cross past the far post that Luthringshausen couldn't quite catch up to at 6 minutes. Viator's Murphy took a throw deep on the right side that found Maggie Leazer but Leazer's flick hit the outside netting at the near post at 24 minutes.

Fenwick, meanwhile, applied the lion's share of its attacking pressure in the first half. Saint Viator's backline and keeper Samantha Stanley met the challenge until the 25th minute, when the Friars found a shot and scored on the follow-up attempt.

The 1-0 lead held to the final minute before halftime, when the Lions sent in a freekick and Molly Murphy's flick popped up and over Fenwick's charging keeper and into the net.

The Lions drew even before the halftime buzzer, but they withstood more attacking pressure than they would have liked through 40 minutes.

"We just weren't connecting in the beginning of the game and then we starting connecting more and playing to feet in the second half," Lions freshman striker Lauren Kohn said. "(Fenwick) was really physical and they had really fast people in the back."

Luthringshausen battled deep to earn a corner at 41 minutes, Stanley handled a low cross belted to the near post at 50 minutes, and Lions defender Kayne Stanley raced onto two attempted through-balls in thwarting a pair of Fenwick counters at 51 and 57 minutes.

Erin Renee Murphy hit a freekick wide of the post at 59 minutes, Micaela Lonigro found a shot from 20 yards out soon thereafter, while Kohn and Luthringshausen fought tooth-and-nail in the final third.

"We're trying new formations going into the playoffs so we were just working on moving the ball around and trying to finish our chances," Luthringshausen said. "We try to play three up top so we have to know where to go more but once we play two up top, then the forwards just have to work hard."

Luthringshausen's relentlessness paid off at 75 minutes. The senior striker turned the corner on the right side, took a touch up the endline and fired a ball to the near post that went in off a Fenwick defender.

"Like you saw, it doesn't really matter how it goes in. You just need to score those goals," Luthringshausen said. "We just need to cross a good ball in and finish, and now we feel strong going into the playoffs."

Luthringshausen has been wreaking havoc on defenses for years with her speed and feistiness at Viator, "and that's why you just stick with her," Taylor said. "I hound her, but I stick with her."

The game's third goal came when Kohn made a nifty move on a defender and fired off the crossbar at 78 minutes, with Luthringshausen crashing net and cleaning up on it.

And not to be lost was a key play at 73 minutes, when the game was still tied 1-1 and Samantha Stanley left her line after a ball sent over the top by Fenwick and made a sliding save out at the top of the box.

The Saint Viator defense has helped the Lions go 4-1 in their last five games.
"They're just solid," Taylor said. "There's nothing fancy there, nothing flashy, they're just solid.

"I thought Katharine Sexton worked hard today and I thought Megan McCollum played hard, too, when she came in off the bench. Fenwick is a good team. I know they're missing one or two players but we knew it would be a battle. But I think when we come to play, we can play with anyone."